Barry grills Ministers on British science in Antarctica

British scientists and researchers have been active in Antarctica for over a century: but what is their role in the region, and how is their work deepening our knowledge of climate change?

Science Minister Lord Vallance and Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty MP gave evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee as members conclude its predecessor Committee’s work on ‘The UK and the Antarctic environment’. The inquiry was established to examine the role of UK science in understanding the effects of climate change in Antarctica, and how well the UK Government is meeting its obligations under the Antarctic Treaty.

The importance of the right tree, in the right place at the right time

On the 27th of November 2024 Barry sat on a session of Environmental Audit Committee to ask the question: Can the UK reduce emissions by 81% without behaviour change?

This panel quizzed 2 representatives from the Climate Change Committee. In addition to exploring what is needed to meet the UK’s NDC, the Committee also discussed the CCC’s annual report to Parliament made in June 2024, seeking the CCC’s views on the prospects of meeting the Sixth Carbon Budget, looking forward to the CCC’s advice on the Seventh Carbon Budget, and discussing the CCC’s assessment of climate-related announcements in the recent Autumn Budget. 

National Planning Policy Framework reforms and the environment

In this one off session of the Environmental Audit committee Barry alongside the other MPs considered the Government's recent proposals for reform of the National Planning Policy Framework, including the 'standard formula' for determination of housing need, and to look at the extent to which the Government has taken into account the likely effect of its proposals on delivery of the environmental objective of the planning system in England.

Barry Gardiner for EAC Chair

“Why do they spend a lot of time and money doing careful scientific studies, and then simply ignore the results?” – Sir David Attenborough 

 

Dear Colleague,

The job of the Environmental Audit Committee is to make sure we examine the science and hold people to account against their environmental and sustainability targets.

A good chair of committee does not hog the limelight but builds a cross-party team that will work together to question witnesses. The chair's key role is to draft a report that can command the agreement of all members, and find suitable compromises where they differ, whilst moulding a powerful report of constructive recommendations to government.

In the last parliament I was a member of all three of the environment select committees: EAC, EFRA, and ESNZ where I worked constructively with colleagues from all sides of the House. That is why the Chairs of all three committees in the last parliament (two Conservatives and one SNP) have been pleased to endorse my candidacy to Chair the Committee. I hope you will too.

Experience

As Minister for Biodiversity and Rural Affairs, I set up Natural England, the network of Marine Conservation Zones, the English Coast Path, and established the system that led to the Natural Capital Committee.

As Minister for Energy in Northern Ireland, with the Irish Minister I unified the electricity grid in the whole of Ireland.

As Minister at the Dept of Trade and Industry, I helped introduce the system of cap and trade for carbon emissions.

As the Prime Minister's Envoy for Forests, I established the £58 million Congo Basin Forest Fund.

In opposition, I served as Shadow Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change, Shadow Environment Minister and Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade.

Outside of parliament, I have been President of GLOBE, a Director of The Climate Parliament and the UK Chair of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation.

1st Preference VOTE for Chair of the EAC.

Barry Gardiner
Member of Parliament for Brent West

The public are angry about shrinkflation - why won't the government do anything about it?

Shrinkflation, also known as package downsizing or weight-out, is the process of items shrinking in size or quantity while the prices remain the same, or in some cases even increase.

A survey by Which found that 77% of the British public aren’t happy about it. they dislike the sneaky tactics by which to increase their costs.

On the 21st of May 2024, Barry asked the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries Mark Spencer MP, why he and his government weren’t doing anything about it.

Minister left speechless when confronted with the reality of foodbanks

On the 24th of January 2023 Barry a government minister tried to dismiss the rise in use of foodbanks, instead arguing that  the UK consumer is savvy enough to continue to shop around and avoid astronomical rises in food prices.

Barry pointed out to him that an Ealing Road foodbank in our community on Saturday morning, had a queue that was over a quarter of a mile long. He didn’t have much to say in response.

Why were U.K. bill payers saddled with an extra £29Billion for their gas and electric?

On the 9th of May 2024 the CEO of Centrica was asked to explain why U.K. bill payers were saddled with an extra £29Billion for their gas and electric, driving many into hardship at the same time as Oil and Gas companies were making £65billion in profit. And why his company who made £3.3Billion profit felt they had to fire and rehire workers on worse terms and conditions.

The government have ignored advice on fast fashion for too long

On the 1st of May 2024, Barry sat on two Environmental Audit Committee Sessions on the subject of fast fashion.

On the first panel, Barry questioned the experts on how best the UK fashion industry can reduce its carbon footprint. He also asked what actions the government could take to change attitudes towards green fashion. This panel consisted of Professor Dilys Williams, Founder and Director, Centre for Sustainable Fashion, University of the Arts London, Keith James, Head of Policy and Insights, WRAP and Femke den Hartog, CSR Policy Advisor, Europe, INretail.

After this Barry challenged Andrew Reaney, Director of Responsible Sourcing, boohoo group, Marcus Hartmann, Head of Public Affairs, H&M, Joe Metcalfe, Founder and CEO, Thrift+ and Lorna Fallon, Trading Director, Oxfam on microplastics in the fashion industry.

What more can supermarkets do to support you in your weekly shop?

On the 30th of April 2024 Barry questioned representatives from Britain’s largest supermarkets to question what theyre doing to support people sturggling with rising inflation during a cost of living crisis.

The panel included Dom Morrey, Commercial Director for Fresh Food, Tesco, Kris Comerford, Chief Commercial Officer (Food), Asda, Charlotte Di Cello, Commercial Director, Waitrose, Richard Bourns, Chief Commercial Officer, Lidl GB and Rhian Bartlett, Chief Food Commercial Officer, Sainsbury’s.

Amazon fails to appear before the Committee: Electronic waste and the circular economy

On Wednesday 17 April, the Environmental Audit Committee held a follow-up session to its inquiry on electronic waste.

Electrical and electronic equipment are estimated to be Europe’s fastest growing source of waste, increasing by 3-5% year on year. UK households and businesses discard an estimated 2 million tonnes of e-waste each year.

MPs heard from organisations and experts working across the waste and recycling industries. However, Amazon declined an invitation to appear, despite being the primary UK marketplace for electronics. Committee Chair Philip Dunne has written to the company querying this, saying it raises concerns of how waste and recycling is being tackled “at board level”.

Thames Water have provided a catastrophic failure in service

“I’m not sure you have charted a plan in what you’ve said”, Barry told Steve Barclay, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as he outlined the “catastrophic failure” of Thames Water.

In the second half of the same session, Barry put to the Minister that “there is a huge descrepancy in the number of checks you think will be required at Sevington and that they believe will be required at Sevington”. 1.1 million to be specific. This was part of Barry’s line of questioning on the operation of Britain’s ports.

"It has taken me 16 years to get someone to say that in front of a Committee, so thank you"

On the 20th of March 2024, Barry took part in an Environmental Audit Committee panel for the inquiry entitled “The role of natural capital in the green economy”.

The panel in question featured Susannah Stock, Banking Director responsible for Natural Capital, UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB); Paul Scaping, Public Policy Specialist, The Investment Association and Dr Scott Steedman CBE, Director-General, Standards, and Group Executive at British Standards Institution (BSI).

The government will give Drax £11bn by 2027 without properly monitoring the progress

On 20 March 2024, Barry questioned Andrew Bowie MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Nuclear and Renewables), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on his department’s lack of monitoring on the issue of sustainable biomass.

The Minister stated that he disagreed with the National Audit Office in their conclusion that the government department lacked appropriate monitoring. A report which the Minister’s own permanent secretary agreed to.

Later in the afternoon, the Energy Security and Net Zero Committed hosted another session, this time questioning Alice Delahunty, President, National Grid Electricity Transmission; Christianna Logan, Director of Customers and Stakeholders, SSEN Transmission and Phil Jones, Chair, Energy Networks Association.

Why have food manufacturers made record profits while working families struggle?

On the 19th of March 2024 Barry grilled food manufactuers on why they have profiteered so much during a time when families are struggling to put food on the table.

Barry on X (formerly Twitter) stated:

“Big Food Bosses expected us to feel sorry for them and moaned about the increase cost of their supply chain. But they couldn’t explain why their profits had soared when families were struggling with the cost of living crisis.”

What can the UK learn from Germany in securing domestic supply chains?

On the 13th of March 2024 Barry took part in 2 panels with industry leaders asking how can the UK better secure its domestic supply chains.

In the thirdpanel, representatives from Siemons Energy claimed that due to a lack of political consistency the Government failed to secure investment from their industry.

The Committee first quesioned Andy Reay, the Head of Offshore Wind at Associated British Ports.

The second panel consisted of Alastair Evans, the Director of Corporate and Government Affairs, RollsRoyce SMR, Rich Everett, the Group Head of Supply Chain, Rolls-Royce SMR and Victoria Scott Interim Chief Manufacturing Engineer, Rolls-Royce SMR.

And finally the third panel featured Darren Davidson the Vice President for UK&I at Siemens Energy, Andrew Elmes Head of Net Zero Business Development, UK&I, Siemens Energy and Matthew Knight Head of Market and Government Affairs, Siemens Energy

Barry questions Government Minister on enabling sustainable electrification of the UK economy

On the 12th of March 2024 Barry sat on a session of the Enviornmental Audit Committee in which they questioned the Departmnet for Energy Security and Net Zero on the issue of enabling sustainable electrification of the UK economy.

This panel included Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP, Minister of State (Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Emily Bourne, Director for Energy Systems and Networks, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Eleanor Warburton, Director, Energy Systems Management and Security, Ofgem.

Education and Careers in Land-based Sectors

On the 5th of March 2024 Barry took part in a special Enviornment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee session held at Harper Adams University.

This was the second session of the education and careers in land-based sectors inquiry. The Committee took evidence from sector experts on a range of issues including:

• Meeting labour needs and addressing the skills gaps across the landbased sectors

• Career pathways into the sectors, including awareness, diversity, inclusion and coordination

• Connecting the public with the opportunities in the land-based sectors, including those seeking a career change